Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12
Results 11 to 20 of 20
  1. #11
    New Member ezwicky's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Location
    Richmond VA
    Hammock
    WBBB XLC
    Tarp
    superfly
    Insulation
    EE TQ and UQ
    Suspension
    wbbb web / buckle
    Posts
    34
    hahaha thanks shug. very entertaining as well as informative. i'm leaning more than ever toward the WBRR.

    by the way, a friend of mine was an advance clown for ringling-brothers. he goes by "bonzo krunch". not sure if you ever knew him.

    -eric

  2. #12
    SilvrSurfr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Jersey Shore, NJ
    Hammock
    Dutch PolyD
    Tarp
    HG Winter Palace
    Insulation
    HG 0, 20, 40
    Suspension
    Dutch Whoopie Hook
    Posts
    14,716
    Images
    3
    1. I'm from the school of thought that thinks how you sleep in a bed is irrelevant. It's a hammock, not a bed. If you enter into hammocking with the preconceived notion that you want a hammock that's closest to your bed experience (which sounds pretty uncomfortable, I might add), then you've pretty much limited yourself to a bridge. Personally, I wouldn't consider a bridge until I'd examined the cheaper alternatives. I'm a side sleeper in a bed; pretty much a back sleeper in a hammock. If you haven't even tried sleeping in a hammock, you've picked out some pretty expensive rigs there.
    2. You can get a $30 gathered-end hammock from Dutch, and a decent tarp from a cottage vendor for $85 to $130. Toss in a suspension for $30-ish and your entry point into hammocking is much, much cheaper than the options you're considering.
    3. With all that extra money you could buy an UQ - that's the best money I've ever spent. I was stubborn too, and stuck with a pad for two years, but the UQ will improve your hammock experience more than any other piece of gear.
    4. One of the reasons I don't like hammocks with integrated bugnets, zippers, overcovers, or other bells and whistles is because I'm a hiker and try to keep my pack weight down. However, another reason I like simple gathered end hammocks is because I think the most exciting thing happening in the hammock community is the new fabrics coming out. I can make a gathered-end hammock (or buy one) for less than $35. Dutch's PolyD 1.4 polyester hammock is the most comfortable material I've ever slept in - there are so many other hammock fabrics I'm looking forward to trying as well. However, if I wanted to try them in a Swiss-army knife hammock, it would become prohibitively expensive quickly.
    5. Plenty of people share the "What if I have to go to ground?" fear, and there's always a weight/comfort penalty associated with it. I've personally never had to go to ground for any reason, but I'm especially not worried about lack of trees - I plan my trips sufficiently that there's virtually no chance I'd end up in some barren treeless wasteland. If I wanted to camp in some spot like that (desert, above the treeline, etc.), I'd bring a tent. That desire for versatility - a setup that works on the ground or hanging from trees, ends up giving you substandard hammock comfort, also.
    "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds." Ralph Waldo Emerson

  3. #13
    New Member ezwicky's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Location
    Richmond VA
    Hammock
    WBBB XLC
    Tarp
    superfly
    Insulation
    EE TQ and UQ
    Suspension
    wbbb web / buckle
    Posts
    34
    thanks silversurfer, i am looking at this with an open mind, and i appreciate your suggestions. i might indeed try one of those $30 dutch-ware hammocks. it definitely seems like a cheap way to see if i like a gathered-end hammock.

    regarding the pad and my concerns about going to ground, i travel by motorcycle, and often do not plan my stops. sometimes i know where i'll be camping, sometimes i just ride through the VA mountains and get lost on purpose. i think once i end up with a hammock, whichever kind i try out first, i will take along with me my 1-man sierra-designs tent and a pad. just for peace of mind. i can afford the extra weight and space.

    thanks again for your input,

    -eric

  4. #14
    Senior Member Cali's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Modoc, SC
    Hammock
    Switchback/Speer/T-Bird/WBBB/Lt Owl
    Tarp
    SF/CF/Cldburst/Oge
    Insulation
    Incub/Buro/Snugfit
    Suspension
    Cinch Straps
    Posts
    3,567
    I think on the east coast you are pretty safe with finding trees wherever you stop. Or at least within a decent distance away. Out west is a different story.
    "No whining in the woods"

  5. #15
    Senior Member Floridahanger's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    SW Volusia, FL
    Hammock
    Ridge Outdoor Gear Pinnacle 360
    Tarp
    UGQ Rect. and HHex
    Insulation
    DIY CDT/synth sets
    Suspension
    Straps/Speed Hooks
    Posts
    4,398
    Images
    10
    I love my Gathered End hammock I made years ago. Same hammock for years and cost me $1.50/yrd. 4 yards total for hammock and stuff sacks and the like. That's $6 for hammock plus a little here and there for suspension, SRL(structural ridge lines), DIY bugnet, DIY tarp. Very inexpensive.

    My wife likes my hammock, but, not to sleep in. Her legs get very sore in a Gathered End. For her medical needs, a Bridge is better. Not a whole lot more as far as DIY, but, a lot more expensive, than Gathered End due to hardware, for me.

    Only you can decide what is better for you. Before your purchase, go to several Group Hangs and try some hammocks out. If you have a tent, take it. You'll still be welcomed and you can see many different types for yourself.

    If you can manage a short trip to Florida, Fifth Annual Florida Hang , FHV is during MLK weekend in January. There will be 130+ hangers, ground dwellers, camper trailers and hotel sleepers. Some coming from your area.

    We would love to host you and your family and you can try almost every type of hammock there is. Eat until your burst. Kayak trips, lake fishing, group hikes, Dutch Oven heaven, camp fires and very large indoor fireplace.


    Good luck in finding your personal hammock heaven.
    Enjoy and have fun with your family, before they have fun without you

  6. #16
    New Member ezwicky's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Location
    Richmond VA
    Hammock
    WBBB XLC
    Tarp
    superfly
    Insulation
    EE TQ and UQ
    Suspension
    wbbb web / buckle
    Posts
    34
    thanks floridahanger. i used to do a lot of work for brighthouse networks in tampa and central FL, and for cox in gainesville and ocala, but those projects are done. otherwise i could invent a reason to go

    but i appreciate the invitation, and i will keep my eyes open for a group hang closer to where i'm at.

    thanks,

    -eric

  7. #17
    New Member ezwicky's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Location
    Richmond VA
    Hammock
    WBBB XLC
    Tarp
    superfly
    Insulation
    EE TQ and UQ
    Suspension
    wbbb web / buckle
    Posts
    34
    i just pulled the trigger on a warbonnet blackbird XLC. thanks to everybody who offered input here. as well as everybody else's posts on the other forums here.

    still figuring out the top-quilt at the moment. will use a pad for the next month or two, then decide on which underquilt. there's so many choices....

  8. #18
    all secure in sector 7 Shug's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Minnesota
    Hammock
    I have many so....
    Tarp
    Blackcrow DIY Tarp
    Insulation
    FrankenquiltUQ/Pod
    Suspension
    Whoopie Slings
    Posts
    23,394
    Images
    62
    Quote Originally Posted by ezwicky View Post
    i just pulled the trigger on a warbonnet blackbird XLC. thanks to everybody who offered input here. as well as everybody else's posts on the other forums here.

    still figuring out the top-quilt at the moment. will use a pad for the next month or two, then decide on which underquilt. there's so many choices....
    Some pad and bag intel....
    Carry forth.
    Shug

    Whooooo Buddy)))) All Secure in Sector Seven

  9. #19
    all secure in sector 7 Shug's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Minnesota
    Hammock
    I have many so....
    Tarp
    Blackcrow DIY Tarp
    Insulation
    FrankenquiltUQ/Pod
    Suspension
    Whoopie Slings
    Posts
    23,394
    Images
    62
    Quote Originally Posted by ezwicky View Post
    hahaha thanks shug. very entertaining as well as informative. i'm leaning more than ever toward the WBRR.

    by the way, a friend of mine was an advance clown for ringling-brothers. he goes by "bonzo krunch". not sure if you ever knew him.

    -eric
    I don't know him. I was 1980-82 years.
    Whooooo Buddy)))) All Secure in Sector Seven

  10. #20
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    Las Vegas, New Mexico
    Hammock
    DIY dl bridge
    Tarp
    Diy silpoly
    Insulation
    DIY UQ, TQ
    Suspension
    Outdoor ink straps
    Posts
    356
    You bought the right hammock. I got a BlackBird XLC this past spring and love it. Santa is bringing me synthetic UQ and TQ. As long as you hang the foot end about 6 in higher than head, you will be Soooo comfy. If, in your travels, you see a really oldfart (66) on a Victory Kingpin or Buell Ulysses hammock camping, it will be me. Only way to go!

  • + New Posts
  • Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12

    Similar Threads

    1. Bridge hammocks:WBRR vs BMBH vs gathered end for side sleeping?
      By BillyBob58 in forum General Hammock Talk
      Replies: 83
      Last Post: 02-03-2014, 16:20
    2. SOLD: 2QZQ UCP's for gathered and bridge hammocks
      By cougarmeat in forum [SOLD/WITHDRAWN] Items no longer available
      Replies: 5
      Last Post: 10-03-2013, 22:48
    3. Narrow body gathered end?
      By Paprika bohlmann in forum General Hammock Talk
      Replies: 6
      Last Post: 07-17-2013, 07:56
    4. Gathered End vs Bridge Hammocks..
      By rbdodger in forum General Hammock Talk
      Replies: 4
      Last Post: 02-22-2012, 08:40
    5. 5' x 9' tarp for narrow foot bridge -- will it work?
      By turkeyboy in forum Weather Protection
      Replies: 3
      Last Post: 08-03-2009, 00:12

    Bookmarks

    Posting Permissions

    • You may not post new threads
    • You may not post replies
    • You may not post attachments
    • You may not edit your posts
    •